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Capture the Moment

Sep 11

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: McLaren, Norris, Piastri

Analysing McLaren and Piastri’s team order

McLaren’s decision to ask Oscar Piastri to relinquish second place to Lando Norris at the Italian Grand Prix has sparked debate—and not without reason. A slow pit stop for Norris allowed Piastri to jump ahead late in the race. McLaren then instructed Piastri to let Norris back through, a move the championship leader clearly didn’t appreciate but ultimately obeyed. The team cited last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix as precedent, but the comparison doesn’t quite hold. In Hungary, the undercut was so potent that Norris was guaranteed to leapfrog Piastri by pitting two laps earlier under pressure from behind. At Monza, however, the undercut wasn’t nearly as effective. Norris would have retained position if not for the botched stop. As Piastri rightly pointed out, sometimes a slow pit stop is just part of racing. This call from McLaren felt unnecessary—and worse, it feeds into the narrative of favoritism toward Norris. While McLaren has generally navigated intra-team dynamics well, this intervention seemed excessive. Not every twist of racing fortune needs to be corrected. Had Piastri gained the position purely through strategy, the team might have had a stronger case. But the slow stop was the decisive factor, and that’s racing. Piastri’s compliance […]

Sep 05

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: MotoGP, Steiner, Tech3

Guenther Steiner leads acquisition of Tech3 team

Red Bull KTM Tech3 is poised to enter a transformative new era, as a consortium led by a prominent motorsport figure secures full ownership of the MotoGP outfit—including its Moto3™ operations. This strategic shift will take full effect in 2026, marking a significant milestone in the team’s evolution. Under the new leadership structure, Guenther Steiner will take the helm as CEO, while project partner Richard Coleman steps into the role of Team Principal. Founder and current Team Principal Hervé Poncharal will continue to guide Tech3 through the ongoing season before transitioning into a consultancy role. In this capacity, Poncharal will focus on mentoring emerging talent and sharing his decades of invaluable MotoGP experience. Despite the ownership change, the team will retain its identity as Tech3, continue racing with KTM machinery under existing agreements, and remain headquartered in its long-standing base in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France. Steiner, renowned for his candid leadership as the founding Team Principal of the Haas F1 Team, began his motorsport journey in rally engineering. Over the past four decades, he has held senior positions at Jaguar Racing and Red Bull Racing, building a reputation as one of the sport’s most seasoned figures. Coleman brings over ten years of […]

Aug 16

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: MotoGP

Casey Stoner Sounds the Alarm Over MotoGP’s Future

Two-time MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has voiced serious concerns about the direction of grand prix motorcycle racing, warning that the series’ upcoming 2027 regulations may not only fail to improve safety and spectacle—but could actually make the sport more dangerous. A key component of MotoGP’s planned overhaul is the shift to lighter, 850cc machines. But Stoner, speaking at the Austrian Grand Prix, argued that the changes miss the mark. He’s long been critical of the increasing reliance on electronic rider aids, which he believes create a false sense of security and encourage riders to push beyond safe limits. Stoner’s latest critique came as MotoGP unveiled new control software aimed at reducing slides and wheelspin—technology that Dorna, the sport’s commercial rights holder, claims will enhance safety by preventing highside crashes like the one Pecco Bagnaia suffered at the 2023 Catalan GP. But Stoner isn’t convinced. “You can twist the throttle with nearly 300bhp and nothing happens,” he said. “These are the best riders in the world, riding the easiest bikes to ride. That’s not something I’m interested in.” He recalled his own frustrations from 2012, when electronic interference began to erode the raw connection between rider and machine. “I didn’t […]

Aug 10

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Nascar, van Gisbergen, Xfinity

Van Gisbergen suffers violent Watkins Glen crash while leading

Shane van Gisbergen’s hopes of another NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Watkins Glen were dashed when contact from his JR Motorsports teammate Connor Zilisch sent him into the wall. Van Gisbergen was leading the race with 18 laps to go when Zilisch in the #88 Chevrolet Camaro went around the outside of the #9 at the penultimate turn. Zilisch ran wide and upon returning to the traditional racing line, the left front of his car clipped the right rear of van Gisbergen’s and sent him spinning. The Kubota-backed car made heavy contact with the outside SAFER barrier and ended his day early. “I’m okay. Car’s not,” van Gisbergen radioed. “Not ideal. I’m pretty gutted really,” said van Gisbergen after being released from the infield care centre. “Gutted for the JR Motorsports guys. Our car wasn’t great, but we still managed to get ourselves in a good position. “Looked great. Kubota had some cool guests here. But yeah, pretty average way to end it. “I haven’t seen it yet. I’ll watch it later and work it out, but I don’t know yet.” Prior to the crash, van Gisbergen had been playing defence. The Kiwi had been struggling with an overall lack […]

Aug 10

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Binder, KTM, MotoGP

Beirer Admits KTM “Not at All Satisfied” with Binder’s 2025 Season

Brad Binder returns to the Red Bull Ring hoping the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix can reignite his faltering MotoGP campaign. The South African rider is enduring the toughest season of his premier-class career, and KTM’s motorsport director Pit Beirer has made it clear: the team is “not at all satisfied” with what they’ve seen so far. The Austrian GP holds special significance for Binder. It was here in 2021 that he claimed his second—and most recent—MotoGP victory, gambling on slick tyres in a dramatic late-race downpour. But four years and 78 Grands Prix later, that win remains his last. As the championship resumes after its summer break, Binder finds himself in unfamiliar territory: struggling for form, confidence, and results. Binder has scored just 68 points across the first 12 rounds of 2025—his lowest tally at this stage of any season. Not even his rookie year in 2020, when he sat 12th with 76 points, saw him this far down the standings. His best result this year remains a sixth-place finish at Jerez in April. The arrival of Pedro Acosta to the factory KTM team has only intensified the spotlight. The 21-year-old rookie has already amassed 124 points and delivered KTM’s […]

Aug 09

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Nascar, Trackhouse, van Gisbergen

Van Gisbergen Inks Multi-Year Extension with Trackhouse Racing

Shane van Gisbergen is living out one of motorsport’s most remarkable modern fairytales—trading Supercars for NASCAR and thriving in a way few could have predicted. Following in the footsteps of fellow Aussie legend Marcos Ambrose, the Kiwi has carved out a stunning career on American soil. His NASCAR journey began in electrifying fashion in 2023, when he stunned the racing world by winning on debut in a last-lap thriller on the streets of Chicago, driving Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 Camaro. In 2024, van Gisbergen made the full-time leap to the U.S., competing in the Xfinity Series and leaving his Supercars legacy behind. By 2025, he had graduated to the Cup Series as a rookie—and wasted no time making history. With victories at Mexico City, Sonoma, and a triumphant return to Chicago, van Gisbergen tied the record for most wins by a rookie in a single season. His rapid rise has prompted Trackhouse Racing to lock in the 36-year-old with a multi-year contract extension. And for van Gisbergen, the feeling is mutual. “Trackhouse Racing feels like home,” he said. “They gave me the chance to race in Chicago back in 2023. That was just a one-off deal, but everything that’s happened […]

Aug 06

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Alpine, Colapinto, Formula1

Colapinto Escapes Unharmed After Crash During Pirelli Tyre Test

Franco Colapinto walked away unscathed from a crash during Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyre testing at the Hungaroring, where Alpine, McLaren, and Racing Bulls are participating in a two-day programme focused on developing tyres for the 2026 season. Alpine confirmed in a brief statement that Colapinto was “OK” after being evaluated at the circuit’s medical centre following an incident at Turn 11 — a notoriously challenging right-hander. The crash prematurely ended Colapinto’s testing schedule and comes at a turbulent moment in the young Argentine’s F1 journey. Since stepping in for Jack Doohan at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the 22-year-old has struggled to find form. He remains point-less, has crashed twice in qualifying, and has been outqualified by teammate Pierre Gasly in seven of their nine races together. There were glimmers of progress in Hungary, where Colapinto outqualified and finished ahead of Gasly for only the second time since joining the grid. However, this latest setback adds to mounting pressure, especially amid speculation linking Valtteri Bottas to Alpine — with rumours suggesting a mid-season switch could be on the cards. Alpine currently sits at the bottom of the constructors’ standings with just 20 points, trailing ninth-placed Haas by 15.

Jul 07

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Chicago, Nascar, van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen completes perfect Chicago weekend

It was hot in Chicago this week, but Shane van Gisbergen was even hotter. The road course ace roared to the lead on Lake Shore Drive and ran away from the field in a nine-lap shootout, winning Sunday’s third annual Grant Park 165, the NASCAR Cup Series’ Chicago Street Race. The Trackhouse Racing driver, who won Saturday’s Xfinity Race and the Cup race’s pole, got his number 88 Chevrolet past leader Chase Briscoe with 16 laps left and had a 2.5 second lead over Ty Gibbs before a caution on the final lap gave him his second win of 2025. The victory was the Auckland, New Zealand native’s third in 33 career starts and helped Chevrolet to sweep three victories in the streets of Chicago. He started the weekend by winning the pole for the Sunday race. The 36-year-old Supercars champion then backed up his first career Cup victory in the Second City in 2023 by doing it again. “What an amazing weekend for me,” said van Gisbergen, who led 26 laps and dominated the series last month on Mexico City’s road layout. “We made no mistakes, and there were some really fast cars.” Van Gisbergen said the weather was […]

Jul 06

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Chicago, Nascar, SVG

Van Gisbergen storms to Xfinity win

Shane van Gisbergen capitalised on a late race restart to successfully defend his 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series win in Chicago in stunning fashion. Having dominated the early stages, an unfortunate break threatened to derail van Gisbergen’s quest to go back-to-back, however it was a trademark charge through the field that saw him win his first Xfinity start of 2025. Van Gisbergen started second on the final restart with two laps to go, and muscled past JR Motorsports and Trackhouse stablemate Connor Zilisch at Turn 1, winning by 0.823s. It capped off a remarkable day for the Kiwi, who also claimed pole position for both the Xfinity race and tomorrow morning’s Cup Series race. “Yeah unreal, I thought it was going to be a lost cause when the strategy went wrong, but it worked out well,” said van Gisbergen in victory lane. “Thanks to JR Motorsports, the car was a rocket, WeatherTech, Red Bull, unreal day. Awesome day.” It was a much tougher day for Jack Perkins, who barely got into the race before it all unravelled for the 38-year-old. Having started a fine fifth in his first NASCAR start, Perkins dropped back two places in the opening laps before being […]

Jul 01

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Alpine, Bottas, Formula1

Bottas a potential Colapinto replacement

Valtteri Bottas has emerged as the leading candidate for a surprise switch to Alpine later this year should the Formula 1 team decide it wants to replace Franco Colapinto. Alpine’s executive advisor Flavio Briatore, who is currently its de facto team principal, has approached Mercedes to discuss the potential availability of its reserve driver. While it is understood that discussions between Alpine and Mercedes over Bottas have been very preliminary, and have not advanced towards a deal definitely happening, they do suggest that Briatore is considering his driver options amid Alpine’s ongoing struggles. Bottas, who was dropped by Sauber at the end of last year, has made no secret of the fact he wants to get back into a full-time F1 race seat. While it was previously thought that the all-new Cadillac operation was his best hope, as talks between the Bottas camp and F1’s incoming team have already begun, the possibility of jumping into an Alpine seat could offer Bottas another F1 lifeline – both for later this year and into 2026. Sources suggest Mercedes would have no problem in letting Bottas take on an F1 return with Alpine, especially as it will become a Mercedes customer team from […]